Electric heating system



Nov. 13 1923.

L. P. HYNES ELECTRIC HEATING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 4'. 1921 IN-VENTOR A TTTOR/VE r Nov. 13,1923. 1 1,474,150

'L;-P. HYNES ELECTRIC HEATING SYSTEM File 4. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 027% Q 26 INVENTOR y B 64/. f

A TTUR/VEY all t PM Nov. 13, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEE P, HYHES, OI ALBANY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO CONSOLIDATED CAB-HEATING comm, or 41mm,

NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

I ELECIBIC HEATING S YSTEM.

Application filed October 4, 1921. Serial No. 505,425.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, Len P. HYNES, a citizen of the United States, residin at Albany, in the county of Albany and tate of New York,have invented certain new and useful Im rovelnents in Electric 'Heating Systems, t e following being a full, clear, and exact disclosure of the onev form of my invention which Iat present deem preferable. v

For a detailed description of the present form of my invention, reference may be had to the following specification and to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof wherein-e -Fig. 1 is a diagram of my system;

Fig; 2 is a modification;

Fig. 3 shows the application thereto of a switch for changin it from 1200 to 600 vvolts pressure and vice versa.

' M heating system is of the type wherein e heating coils are concentrated in one casing at one point in the car or apartment. Then air isblown into the inlet duct of the casing .and over the coils by a fan or other blower and, when heated thereby, is distributed by an outlet duct through the space to be heated. ,This is known as the blast heating system and has certain notable advantages; Thus'by delivering, the heated air at the floorline, the floorsare warmed and "dried as they are not in the ordinary system condition.

higlhly desirable system more practical than of direct radiation'by distributed heaters.

In addition the circulation and uniform dis .tribution' of uniformly heated air is secured. while the air is fresh and is constantly being [replenished from the outside. This affords a more sanitary, healthful and comfortable My invention'aims to make this j as proved to be heretofore. A system of I this type is illustrated for example in the patent of McElroy N 0. 1,190,780 of July 11, 1916, also in the patents of Williams No. 1,154,587 ofJSept. 21,4915 and Smith No.

1,217,229 of Feb. 27,- 1917. -My system constitutes animprovement thereon in several respects. In particular-it has been attem t- -,ed in allprevious systems ,I'am familiar with to insure the operation of the fan mo tor when the heaters are on, and this has in volved the interlocking either mechanically or electricall of a number of manually op erated switches. I have eliminated these out interfering with the completeness and workable character of the features which remain. Other advantages of my ar rangement will be mentioned hereinafter.

Referring to Fig. 1, A represents a service switch, preferably of the safety type. whereby current from the trolley wire TR may be admitted to main heater circuit 1 leading to the group of heater coils 7, 8. 9 and 10. which are arranged within one suit able casing. Through this casing the air to be heated and then distributed is forced by a fan or blower motor F. The switch A is shown diagrammatically as of the snapbreak type operated by handle A and pro vided with blow-out coil A and main fuse A. At B is shown an automatic circuit closer which is opened automatically by gravity or a spring andis closed by the magnet 6 in the fan-motor circuit; The

switch B is normally open but is closed by which the cool air is blown by a fan driven by motor F. In the casing at the point where the cool air enters is a small fuse G in the circuit of motor F. That circuit starts from the main circuit to which it is permanently connected at the point 1, and, after passing through the. resistance H, goes to fuse G, motor F and thence through magnet 6 of switch B to ground. So long as this fan-motor circuit is closed the automatic switch B will be closed and 'assuming service switch A to be also closed (switch B can not close unless switch A is closed first) the current will then flow to coils 7 of the heater and to ground. Ob-

viously the main circuit can not be closed unless this fan-motor circuit is first closed, nor can the heater' circuit continue to be energized if the fan-motor circuit is open. The heater coils 7 are to be in circuit whenever, and so long as, the heater is turned on at switch A whereby the fan can not at any time blow cold air through the heater and into the car or apartment.

At C is a thermostatic switch that acts on the heater-coils 8, 9 and 10 in a group cutting them into circuit whenever the temperature reaches a determined minimum degree and cutting them out at a determined maximum degree. At D is a mercury thermometer which controls switch C. This switch contains a circuit closer 5 operated b coil 11, when energized, to open it and osed b a spring 8 when coil 11 is de' energize -as it will be when short-circuited by the closure of contacts 15 upon the tie-energizing of coil 16. The circuit of coil 16 starts from the main circuit at switch 5 and thence passes through magnet 11 (or the contacts 15 which, when closed, shortcircuit that magnet) and thence through re sistance 13 and coil 16 to the thermostat D where it goes to ground if the thermostat has reached a temperature adequate to close the grounding circuit. Magnet 16 is also shunted by a ounded resistance 14.- to eliminate sparklng at the thermostat contacts. .While the thermostat D is below maximum temperature the switch 15 bridges the contacts which shunt the magnet 11. When the temperaturerises so that the circuit is closed by the thermostat the current will pass from main wire 1, through the switch 15, coil 13, magnet 16 and the thermostat to the ground. Thusthe magnet 16 is energized and attracts the switch 15, breaking the shunt circuit around the magnet 11, whereupon the last mentioned magnet will be energized, attracting the armature of the switch 5 and breaking the circuit to coils 8, 9 and 10. When the temperature drops the circuit is broken at the thermostat b. and the switches 5 and 15 are returned to their normal positions by their res ctive springs.

ssuming that the service switch A is.

closed by hand the operation of the system begins and is continued thereafter automatically. The first effect of closing switch A is to apply the trolley voltage to the fanmotor circuit through fuse a, pressure'reducing resistance H. fuse G, fan-motor F, magnet 6 to ground. This will start the fan and likewise close switch B and admit current to heater coils 7. It is thus impossible to admit current to the heater without starting the fan at the same time. Moreover, this arrangement has other valuable qualities. I have found that a large ma- 'ority of the cases of failure of the fan is included inthe following list: (1) a break or opening in the fan circuit, (2) a defect in the motor such as a broken brush, (3) a blown fuse at a, (4) an open field magnet coil,"(5) a break or opening in the fine-wire motor resistance H, (6) a loose connection or a break in coil 6 of automatic switch B. In each one of these cases the result will be to de-energize the coil 6 and allow the switch B to open the main heating circuit. It will also be observed that the coil 6 is located in the fan circuit between motor F and the ground. If it were between the motor F and the trolley, an accidental ground between coil 6 and the-motor would cause the motor to stop but leave the coil 6 still energized. Since it is on the ground side of the motor a ground on the circuit at any point will de-energize'the coil as well as the motor. The failure of the fan is a critical accident in a blast system, and the danger of it has retarded the adoption of the system in spite of its pro-eminent advantages. If the fan fails there remains no means for moving the air over the heating coils, which (unlike a steam radiator) actually generate a given amount of heat every second and unless this heat is abstracted as fast as generated, it will accumulate even to the extent of setting fire tothe car or fusing of the wire of the coils. By cutting off the current from the heating coils in the event of the opening or grounding of the fan circuit the danger is almost wholly removed. There remains, however,

the possibility of the fan being mechani cally blocked while its circuit remains intact. Since the fan is a comparatively small one, requiring a considerable resistance H in series with it, the accident just mentioned might occur without blowing the small fuse a inthe fan circuit. It is for this reason that I include the fuse-link G in series with the magnet 6 in the fan circuit. This fuse; link is located in the heater casing back of the heater coils, this being the point where, in the event of fan failure the dead air would become immediately overheated by the still-active heater coils. Thus the fuse G would be certain to blow in the event of the accident last mentioned, and would not only break the motor circuit but also deenergize magneto and cause the automatic switch B to open the main heater circuit. That will immediately stop the generation of heat and its accumulation at the heater. It should also be remembered that the characteristic of a blast system of heating is the concentration of all the heating coils at one s t, in contrast tothe distribution of them t roughout the car or compartment in the ordinary system. Thus the entire heating power of the car or compartment becomes concentrated for destruction, in the event of fan failure, as it is concentrated for normal heating under normal conditions, Since no degree of merit in a heating system can compensate for lack of safety, the expedi cute I have devised have a magnified value in that they help to render'the desirable blast system a safe one, making its merits more available.

Fig. 2 shows a means for eliminating the cost of the "main switch A shown in Fig. 1 which is a heavy-duty switch and hence a somewhat expensive apparatus, requiring lever mechanism to produce the quick, wide break, the blowout magnet to extinguish the arc and the safety construction. In place of switch A, I employ merely the main fuse A, or a simple hand service switch, enclosed in a box A. In the far circuit 2 I place two contacts a: and 3/ which are also in box A, and on the door A of the box I place a contact plate a which will engage w and 3 when the door is shut and connect them electrically. Thus the closing of the fuse box door will close the fan-motor circuit, energizing magnet 6 of switch B and closing thereby the main heater circuit in the way I have described. Since switch B is of the heavy-duty type constructed for safely controlling the main circuit, the switch A becomes unnecessary. I may also place a normally closed switch W in the fan-motor circuit, which, when that circuit is closed at contacts as and y, may be used to start and stop the heating operation, by closing or opening the fan-motor circuit to energize or de-energize the magnet 6 of switch B. Also, by moving switch W to a second contact 'w, the fan-motor circuit will be closed without the inclusion therein of the magnet 6, a resistance b replacing the resistance of magnet 6 in the circuit. Then the fan-motor will operate without any heating by the coils, serving onlyas a means of ventilation which is desirable in mild weather when the circulation by means of the hot air would be lacking if it were not for this expedient. The resistance b may be higher or lower than that of magnet 6 to give the fan a reater orless speed when running without the turning on of the heat. As a means of control, the switch W will not be required to break any large current since the fanmotor current is small and hence can be conveniently used to turn the heat on and ofi.

An important advantage of this system is that it is an organized that its separate parts can be used or not as desired. Thus the switch A can be eliminated, as I have deor a simple hand-switch can be used for coils 7 if their separate control is still desired.

For heating interurban cars which are organized to operate on either 600 volts when in the town, or on 1200 volts when in the country, I provide for shifting the heater from one voltage to the other, This device is illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein there is a change-over switch K under the control of a hand-switch R, the rest of the organization being essentially the same as I have described. The switch K is shown as containing four contact plates 10 16 ,10 [64 and reciprocating longitudinally, a magnet M acting to draw it to the left (as shown in the drawing) for 1200 volts, with the sets or sections of heater coils connected in series, and a magnet M acting to draw it to the right for 600 volts, with the sets of heater coils connected in multiple. Switch R serves to send current to magnet M by the wire r and to magnet M by wire 1*". In the series position, shown in the drawing, the heating current from main line 1 goes to coils 7, thence by wire 7 to plate It and b wire 8 to coils 8 and thence to ground. branch circuit from wire 1 goes, by switch 5 on the thermostatic switch C to coils 10, thence by wire 10 to plate k. and by wire 9 to coils 9 and ground. Only coils 9 and 10 which are governed bv switch 5 are left under control. of the thermostat, coils 7 and 8 being constantly connected. When the switch K is moved to the right (Figure 3) by the magnet M coils 7 will be connected to the ground at point 9 by means of wires 7", and the plate k and the coils 8 will receive current from the wire 1, by means of wire 1, plate In and wire 8. S'aid coils 8 are grounded as indicated at g; coils 9 will receive current from wire 1 by thermostatic switch 5, wire 9 and plate is, being connected to ground at their opposite end. Coils 10 will also receive current from wire 1 by' thermostatic switch 5 and are connected to ground by wire 10 and plate It. In this case too, coils 9 and 10 are under thermostatic control. The switch R when in the 1200-volt position shown in Fig. 3 will also by means of wire 2 act to connect the fanm'otor circuit to the fan-motor F through the resistance sections H and. J, and through one resistance section H. by wire 2*, in the 600-volt position. It will also, in the 600- volt position, short-circuit, by connecting together wires 30 and 39 through a supplementary contact r an extra resistancec in the thermostatic switch C, this resistance being only required in the 1200-volt position. Thus by the simple movement of the handswitch It to right or left, the heater will be organized for. either 1200 or 600 volts. In either case a portion of the heater coils will remain under control of the thermostat.

I am aware that it is not new to utilize the air-pressure, created by the blower when first started, to close the heater circuit by causing such pressure to open a short circuit around a pair of magnets contained in the circuit of the blower motor, the magnets when thus energized by the air pressure serving to operate circuit-closing contacts in the heater circuit. From such an arrangement my claims which require distinction therefrom are distinguished by the statement that the circuit-closer in the heater circuit is controlled directly by the magnet in the circuit of the blower magnet. I also call attention to the single service switch A which acts on heatin -coil circuit back of the branch 2 going to t e fan-motor circuit, also the fuse A and contacts 0;, y and door contact a which may replace switch A. This is much cheaper than an arrangement of a separate switch for. the motor-circuit 2 requiring to be interlocked either electrically with the service switches of the heater coil and also simpler.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric heating system comprising heating coils, a casing therefor having an outlet duct leading into the compartment to be heated and an inlet duct supplied with air by a blower, an electric motor for the blower, a circuit-closer for the heating coils and a magnet in the circuit of the motor and in series therewith directly controlling the said circuit-closer.

2. An electric heating system comprising heating coils, a casing therefor having an outlet duct leading to the compartment to be heated and an inlet duct supplied with air by a blower, an electric motor for the blower,-a common circuit-closer controlling both the heater and blower-motor circuits in .multiple, a second circuit-closer in the heatercircuit and a magnet in the blowermotor circuit controlling the said second circuit-closer.

3. An electric heating system comprising heating coils, a casing therefor having an outlet duct leading to the compartment to be heated and an inlet duct supplied with air by a blower, an electric motor for operating said blower, a circuit-closer in the circuitof the heating coils, a magnet in the circuit of said motor controlling said circuit-closer and a heat-responsive device located at the said casing and acting on the circuit of said motor to stop it when the temperature reaches a predetermined max imum.

4. An electric heating system comprising heating coils, a casing therefor having an outlet duct leading to the compartment to be heated and an inlet duct supplied with air by a blower, a motor for said blower, a circuit-closer in the heater circuit, a magnet for operating said circuit-breaker contained in the circuit of said motor between the motor and the-ground and a heat-responsive device located at the said, casing and acting on the circuit of said motor to stop it when the temperature reaches a predetermined maximum.

5. An electric heating system comprising heating coils, a casing therefor having an outlet duct leading to the compartment to be heated and an inlet duct supplied with air by a blower, a motor for said blower, a circuit branching between the heating coils and the motor, a service switch admitting current to both branch circuits simultaneously, a second switch in the heater circuit, and an operatin magnet in'the motor circuit for said secon switch.

6. An electric heating system comprising heating coils, a casing therefor having an outlet duct leading to the compartment to be heated and; an inlet duct supplied with air' by a blower, a motor for the blower, a circu1t-closer in the heating-coil circuit for admitting current to aiset of said coils, and a thermostat subject to the temperature of the compartment to be heated and controlling a portion of the coils controlled by said circuit-closer.

7. An electric heating system comprising heating coils, a casing therefor having an outlet duct leading to the compartment to be heated and an inlet duct supplied with air by a blower, a motor for the blower, a circuit-closer in the heating-coil circuit for admitting current to a set of said coils, a magnet in the motor circuit for operating said circuit-closer and a thermostat subject to the temperature of the compartment to be heated and controlling a portion of the coils controlled by the aid circuit breaker.

8. An electric heating system of the airblast type comprising heating coils arranged to be put into circuit by closure of the blower-motor circuit, and a single switch which energizes the said motor and thereby also energizes the said coils.

9. An electric heating system of the airblast type comprising heating coils, a circuit therefor, a blower-motor circuit permanently connected to said coil circuit, a service circuit-closer in said coil circuit outside of the point of said permanent connection, a second circuit-closer in the coil circuit and an operating magnet therefor in the blowermotor circuit.

10. An electric heating system of the airblast type comprising a heater circuit, a blower-motor circuit, and a switch in said blower-motor circuit containing two contacts and ground connections therefor. one of said ground connections including a magnet operating a circuit-closer in the heater circuit.

. 11. An electric heating system comprising a plurality of heating-coil sections. a switch for connecting said sections in series or in multiple, a thermostat subject to the temperature of the compartment to be heated, a

relay controlling the heater coils, a thermostat controlling said relay, a resistance in the relay circuit and means for removing said resistance from 'circuit when the said sections are connected in multiple.

12. An electric heating system comprising heating coils in sections, a switch for connecting said sections in series or in multiple. a thermostat subject to the temperature of the apartment to be heated, and a switch outside of said series-multiple switch controlled by said thermostat whereby the thermostat controls the connection of said sections when in either their series or their multiple relation.

13. An electric heating system comprising four sets of heating-coil sections, a switch for connecting each pair of said sets in se ries or in multiple and thermostatic switch subiect to the temperature of the compartment to be heated and controlling one pair of said sets in either their series or their multiple relation. v 14. An electric heating system comprising a plurality of heating-coil sections, a switch for connecting said sections in series or in 3 multiple, an operating magnet for said switch, a switch controlled by a thermostat which is subject to the temperature of the apartment to be heated. a magnet controlling the connection of said heater-coil sections to the circuit. and controlled by said thermostat. a resistance, and a switch for said operating means provided wlth means for 1ncluding said resistance in series wlth the thermostatically controlled switch whenthe resistance sections are in multiple. 15. An electric heating system of the airblast type comprising a plurality of heatercoil sections, a switch for connecting said sections in series or in multiple, a motorthe resistance of the motor"circuit as the said sections are in their series or their parallel relation. v

16. An electric heating system of the airblast type comprising heating-coil sections, a service switch therefor, a series-multiple switch therefor and its operating magnet, and supplementary switch contacts for controlling said operating magnet and changing the resistance of the blower-motor circuit. I

17. An electric heating system comprising a plurality of heating-coil sections, a seriesmultiple switch for said sections, an operating magnet for said switch and a service switch for the heater together with supplementary contacts for said operating magnet.

18. An electric heating system comprising a plurality of heating-coil sections, a seriesmultiple switch therefor, a thermostatic switch controlling said sections, a resistance for said thermostatic switch, a ma et for operatin the series-multi 1e switc and a series switch for the heatin coils together with supplementary contacts for controlling said magnet and including the said thermo. static-switch resistance in the circuit or excludin it therefrom.

19. n electric heating system of the airblast type, comprising a plurality of heatingooil sections, a series-multiple switch therefor, a thermostatic switch and 0 rating magnet therefor and a service switch for the heater together with supplementary contacts for changing the resistance of the blower-motor circuit and the circuit of said operation as the heatingcoil sections are izhanged to their series or their multiple reatio 20. An electric heating system of the airblast type comprising a lurality of heatingcoils, a thermostat su perature'of the compartmenhto be heated and governing the connection of. said coils with the circuit, a blower-motor circuit, a

switch for connecting theheating coils in.

and. the motor circuits and a second circuit closer for the heater circuit operated by a magnet in the motor circuit. operated blower for directing the air blast 7 over said sections, and means for changing- 22. An electric heating system of the airblast type comprisinga plurality of heatercoil sections, aseries-multiple switch for said sections, a blower-motor circuit, a switch controlling the flow of current to. said sections in either their series or multi 1e relation, an 0 rating magnet for sai switch contained 1n the blower-motor circuit, and a circuit-closer controlling both the f heater circuit and the said blower-motor circuit.

23. An electric heating system of the airblast type comprising a plurality of heatercoil sections, a series-multiple switch therefor, a blower-motor circuit, a switch controlling the fiow of current to the heater and a magnet in the blower-motor circuit for op erating the said switch.

Signed at Alban county of Albanv and State of New Yor this 29th day of September, 1921.

LEE P. HYNES. 

